Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-01-07

feed her flock of pigeons. Carl had triea
to coax some of them to his window with
crumbs, and they had fingered there
moment one day, only to fly down joyously
tho instant she appeared.
II will go down and walk over the way"
he said "and will hear if I con how she
coaXes Them"
And he put his cap on his head, for there
were some feathery flakes of snow in tho
air, and ran down the long flight of stairs,
and over the way to the little cottage.
There she stood, with one pretty white
pigeon cooling on her shoulder, and bit
of bread between her fingers. trying to coax
shy newcomer to share in the feast.
But what transformation was there!
Surely this was not the same young woman
in the brown dress whom be had witched
day after day from his window under the
roof!
This was somebody else; for were not
those laughing blue eyes Elsa's own, and
was not that sweet voice the very one whose
music he had SO long yearned to hear?
"Come, my pretty, come. GOMEZ" said the
gentle voice, and Carl had unfastened the
gate and was hurrying up the walk, when
another thought reached his brain, and he
turned back.
1t was Elsa, no doubt, but not has Elsa.
Somewhere the stranger lurked who had
won her from him; it was not for him to
annoy her with his presence. He had al
ready his hand on the gate again. when a
| soft, entreating voice sounded in his ears.
carl, 3" it said; sis it Carl who runs from
me?"
And Carl was back in moment at her
side.
elisa, >" he faltcred. ayes, may be your
friend still! But where is the husband,
that may greet him, too?"
! II know not" she said, and a soft sigh
hoated on the air. II know not. Carl.
Ten years have waited for him, but he
does not come. And I am 27, Carl" she
added, mournfully.
"But he whom you married in the little
home at Geibelstadt, Elsa? What of him?"
| 81 Meier married. she replied, softly.
| at was a cruel Joke, and neighboE Hans
only told me when lie came back to our
village year ago. Then the father and
mother we're dead, and took my portion
| where"
"What, Elsa? You knew not I was
| near?"
| Sid I not?" she answered back. 81
have seen you all summer at your high
window. and saw you feed my pigeons,
too! See, they have all flown away!"
"And you never made sign Oh, Elsa!"
at is not the way with maidens, Carl:
but I thought you might sometime walk
this way"
"Christmas- tree! Christmas tree!"
1t was shouted by some of Elsa's little
neighbors over the hedge.
"When is it coming, Elsa?"
Con Christmas-eve, /" said Carl, laughing
back at the blithe little faces "Come
early, all of you little men. and bring every
one his sweetheart"
"Truly We WILL" they laughed back,
disappearing, from view.
"You see," said Elsa, blushing at his
gaze, they are poor, so many OF them,
and I had SO many marks LAID by, and
thought 1 should not need them, and l
would try to make them happy"
1--WE will together make them happy,
my Elsa!" And then the door of the little
brown cottage was closed, but it shut in, /
| verify believe, bit of paradise.
And Christmas came, and the cottage
was ablaze with light and full Of gay
laughter, for Carl and his Elsa had been
married that day; and in they trudged six
little men and their sweethearts, not one
of them 10 years old; and there was the
wonderful tree which Carl had bought,
overfowing with good things, and such
good time is seldom seen as the cottage
saw that night.
And when it was all over, and the tree
stood empty. Carl took Elsa in his arms,
and whispered:
"Please God. We will have little ones of
our own to make Christmas for some
day."
And Elsa lifted her blue eyes, full of
love, to his face, and nestled her rosy
cheek contentedly on his shoulder Chi
ca0o Ledger.